Moravian Church in North America

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost A Familiar Parable The parable of the sower is a familiar one within the Gospels. It is also one of a few parables in which the Lord Jesus actually comes out and gives the interpretation. The seed is the Word of God. The ground is the human heart. The first ground […]

(In the kingdom of God, there is always room for a warm embrace!) The watchword for the week: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 How wonderful it is to give praise to God. How blessed it is to thank the one who created this world and […]

(The graphic above is a picture I took inside the Bethlehem Chapel, in Prague, where John Hus preached and taught the poorest of the poor in the early part of the 14th Century. He was condemend as a heritic and burned to death on July 6, 1415, for seeking to preach in the language of […]

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost “. . . I Will Give You Rest” As an English teacher, I have to admit to my students that language often makes no logical sense. A word can have multiple meanings and pronunciations, and can even be different parts of speech! For students for whom English is a second language, […]

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Welcome The Gospel reading today concludes Jesus’ instructions to his disciples as they go out into the world to proclaim the good news that the “kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 10:7b). Jesus says to them, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent […]

The watchword for the week: Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance. Psalm 89:15 Let the whole earth be joyful in you, O God, We greet you with gladness and celebrate your presence with joy. For we know that you are continually re-creating […]

The watchword for the week: Jesus says, “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39 Come, let us worship the one who created us, has redeemed us, and sustains us each day. We seek to worship you, gracious God, with glad […]

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Losing and Finding Jesus never hides the fact that following him will sometimes lead us through misunderstanding, sacrifice, or even conflict. Yet Jesus anchors these warnings with a life-giving promise: “Those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” A strikingly honest statement on what a life of discipleship […]

Third Sunday after Pentecost Responsible to Those Close As I write this, my oldest child turns eighteen (Lord willing)! She is now a legal adult, and has authority to sign contracts and vote. The legal power (and liability!) that I carried for eighteen years is gone. It’s bittersweet. Although I remain her father, my power […]

(Two young Moravians in Nain, Labrador, Canada) The watchword for the week: The Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5 O God, our Creator, we worship and adore you this day. We are your people, crafted by the skill of your hands. Psalm 100 1 Make a joyful […]

In photo above: The newly elected Provincial Elders’ Conference for the Southern Province at the installation service June 6.  They include Frances Beasley, Rickey Gardin, the Rev. Dr. Riddick Weber, Andi Williams,  Monique Richards, the Rev. Andrew Craver and the Rev. Dr. Dion Christopher. At the 2026 Synod of the Southern Province of the Moravian […]

Second Sunday after Pentecost Jesus Favors the Marginalized This short passage is packed with excitement as Jesus challenges religious norms and takes an interest in the marginalized. It highlights the call of Matthew, the healing of the woman with a twelve-year hemorrhage, and raising the official’s daughter. Matthew was a despised tax collector, yet Jesus […]

(The Moravian School at Star Mountain, Palestine) Watchword for the Week: God desires steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6  Come, let us worship the One who created us, has redeemed us, and sustains us each day. We seek to worship you, gracious God, with glad and […]

Trinity Sunday Marching Orders In the military, missions are based on the production and execution of “Orders.” Every time I look at the Great Commission, I see and hear Jesus giving us as Christians our “orders” or our “marching Orders.” As the one in command, Jesus declares his authority: “All authority in heaven and on […]

The Watchword for the Week: O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:9 Loving Creator, We thank you for embedding your image within us at our formation. Gracious Redeemer, We thank you for welcoming us home when we have strayed from your intended path. Empowering Spirit, We thank […]

Moravian congregations and ministries may use and/or adapt these materials for their services.  All others, please contact the IBOC ([email protected]) for permission.   Please include “Adapted from the Moravian Core Values Worship Series, © 2026, Moravian Church in America. Used with permission” in any printed or projected material. To download, click here.